Binding machine



, I A. E. CRANSTON BINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4. 1919 5'Sheets'Sheet l INVENTOR A..ECEAJV5J0M' 4 1 ATTORNEY Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,573

A. E. CRANSTON I BINDING MACHINE Filed Sep 4. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EZaJ. 44

ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1926. 1,571,573

A. E. CRANSTON Bmbme momma Fil p '4, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F 7/ I a INVENTOR 4 A. -E. Czmzvsiom ATTORNEY A. E. CRANSTON BINDING MACHINE Filed pt- 4. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 53 Fla .25..

INVENTOR A. E. cmjvszmg ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBEBTEARL CRANSTON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON ASSIGNOR TO ALEC I.

GERRARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BINDING MACHINE.

Application filed September 4, 1919. Serial No. 821,643.

kane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bindinfgl Machines, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to binding machines a generally and particularly to a machine for securing the parts comprised in a box or,

barrel into bundles.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a binding machine of simplified construction, and one which is completely automatic in operation, the only manual operation being the placing of the material on a conveyor for introducing the same to the ma chine. This automatic operation is such that the machine operates only when the material is fed thereto thus producing a machine in which a great saving of power is effected and the wear on the machine materially reduced.

It is also'a purpose of my invention to provide a manual control for the machine so that should it be desired to temporarily dispense with the automatic control it could be readily effected by removal of certain parts of the mechanism thus converting a bindingmachine which was completely automatic in operation into a machine which is controlled manually.

My invention also contemplates other detail improvements in addition" to an improved form of feeding means for feeding the material across the bed of the machine.

I willdescribe one form of bindingmaclaims. In the accompanying drawings tion one form of a binding machine embodying my invention; I v

Figure 2 is a view similar to" Figure 31 showing the opposite side of the binding machine;'

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine shown in the preceding views, showing the introducing and feeding ch ne embodying my invention and will then, point" out the novel features thereof v conveyors, together with associated mechamsm;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view'taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

F1gure 5 is a top, plan view of the tensioning sheave shown in Fi re 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Fi re 7-is a view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a view showing in end elevation, the machine shown in the preceding views, looking in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a slightly enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig ure 1;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 1010 of Figure 8, showmg only that portion of the mechanism which lies between lines 1010 and 11-11;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken onthe line 11-11 of Figure 8.

Figures 12 and 13 are partly diagrammatic views showing'the two extreme positions of the needle and the corresponding positions of the mechanism for actuating the same. i

In carrying out my invention, I provide an endless conveyor which I term an introducing conveyor for delivering bundles of the parts comprised in boxes or barrels to the inding machine, and another conveyor which I term a feeder for feeding the material along the bed of the machine into proper position with relation to a knotter or tying mechanism. The knotter cooperates with a needle] to effect a secure tying ot the material into shooks, and after this operation has been completed, the feeder delivers 1; the shocks to a second conveyor,

I P which lgterm the delivering conveyor, Figure 1 is a view showing 1n s1de'elevawhich "delivers the finished product to a remote point for storing or shipment.

After the machine has been once started, the operation of the variouselements in a predetermined sequence and for redetermined periods is; effected entire y automatically, so that an attendant is unnecessary after the starting operation has been completed. The starting operation may be also effected automatically through the medium of the bundles of material, the mechanism for attaining this end being operatively connected to the manually controlled starting mechanism so that the latter mechanism is actuated automatically instead of manually.

nel bars 19, as clearly shown in Figure 9.

Suitably secured to the front cross bar.18 at a point between the channel bars 19 is the knotter or tying device indicated generally at K, which is designated to sever and twist the ends of a loop of wire after the latter has been arranged about a bundle of the material. The detailed construction and operation of the knotter K is shown and described in my co-pending application, filed January 6, 1919, Serial No. 269,140, and as the knotter forms no part of the present invention a description of the same is omitted.

Referring to Figure 3, E designates generally the feeder which comprises a pair of endless chains 20 working within the channel bars 19 and trained about a pair of driving sprockets 21 fixed to a shaft 22, and a pair of driven sprockets 23 mounted on a shaft 24 journaled between the side members 16, one end of such shaft 22 projecting beyond the adjacent side members, for a purpose to be hereinafter fully described. Mounted at regularly spaced intervals and at corresponding points on the chains 20 are followers, designated generally at G. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each follower G comprises a pair of links 25 and 26 which are pivotally connected to each other at one of their ends while the other ends are pivotally connected to lugs 25 and 26, respectively. The formation of the links .26 is such that the followers when moving across the bed of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, coact with an adjacent follower to form a vertical wall for feeding the bundles of material to the knotter when the chains 20 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figurel.

The bundles of material are introduced at the rear end of the feeder E by means of the introducing conveyor, which is generally indicated at D. As shown in Figure 3, the conveyor D comprises 'a pair of endless cumulation of slack in the wire.

chains 27 which are formed at intervals corresponding to the followers G, with followers G, which are identical in construction to the followers G. The chains 27 are trained about sprockets 28 mounted upon shaft 24, while driving sprockets (not shown), also support the cha1ns 27 to effect a driving of the conveyor, as will be understood. The conveyor D is driven in the direction of the .feeder E, 'and because of the spacing of the chains 27 any material carried by the conveyor D can be safely transferred to the feeder without the liabil ity of displacement.

N designates the needle for supporting the tying wire W and for manipulating the wire to embrace a bundle of the material and to insert the wire into the knotter K. The needle N, in the present instance, an L-shaped arm 29, which is disp sed above the bed of the machine, with one nd thereof fixed to a shaft 30 journaled to the upper extremities of uprights 32, as shown in: Figure 8. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the arm 29 is provided with pulleys 31 and 31 guide members 31*, and a tensioning sheave, indicated at A. about all of which is trained the wire W. The construction of the guide member 31 vis clearly shown in Figure 4. As shown to advantage in Figures 5 and 6, the tensioning sheave A comprises a stub axle 33 mounted on an angle bar 34 attached to the arm 29 by bolts 35. Rotatablymounted upon the stub axle 33 is a disc 36 having an annular flange 37 formed on one face thereof. Surrounding the flange 37 is a movable ring 38 which is biased toward the disc 36 by means of a coil spring 39 mounted upon the axle 33 and bearing uponv a plate 40. The wire W is adapted to be inserted between the ring 38 and the disc 36, and the tension of the spring 39 is such that the wire is gripped between the two members sufficiently to allow the wire to be properly fed from the sheave, at the same time preventing any ac- As shown in Figure 8, the wire W is supplied to the tensioning sheave A from a coil 41 which is slipped over a set of posts 42, and held against undue slipping by springs 43, which engage the upper ends of the posts, as shown.

As shown in Figure 8 an additional tensioning sheave A may be interposed be-' tween the coils 41 and the, sheave A to provide an additional tensioning means and to maintain the wire W clear of the machine.

I will now describe the mechanism for driving the feeder E and the needle N.

The feeder E is driven at all times in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1,

by means of a shaft 22, the projected end of which is provided with a, sprocket 44 (Figure 3), which is operatively connected mprises to a sprocket 45 (Figure 2), by a chain 45", the sprocket being fixed to a shaft 46 journaled in the side members 16. Fixed to one end of the shaft 46 is a pinion 47 which is adapted to mesh with a segmental gear 48 fixed to the spokes 49 of a relatively large spur gear 50, as shown in Figure 11. The gear 50 is fixed to a shaft 51, which latter constitutes the main shaft of the machine, and, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, such shaft is journaled in the side members 16 of the frame F. The shaft 51 is, at times driven by a power shaft 52, but is normally disconnected therefrom, as will be herein after described. When the power shaft 52 is operatively connected to the main driving shaft 51 to rotate the latter in the direction of the arrow, it will be seen from the foregoing description that the segmental rack 48, during one complete revolution of the shaft 51, will drive the pinion 47, and through the remaining mechanism move the upper stretch of the feeder E a predetermined distance toward the knotter K.

As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the needle N is capable of occupying two extreme positions during the securing of loose material into a bundle. As previously described, the needle N is fixed to the shaft 30 and to effect the movement of the needle to either of its extreme positions. I provide the following mechanism:

Fixed to the shaft 30 are a pair of crank arms 53 and 53 which are operatively connected to arms R and R, respectively, by means of connecting rods 54 and 54. One end of the arms R and R are pivotally connected to a pintle 55 mounted .upon one side of the frame F, while the free ends thereof are curved upwardly and provided with rollers 56- see Figure 9. Fixed to one end of the main driving shaft 51 are a pair of cams C and C which are ada ted to coact with the arms R and R for e ecting the rocking of the shaft 30 in one direction or the other to lower or elevate the needle N. As shown in Figure 12, the arm R is engaging the maximum radius of the cam C, while the arm R is contacting with the smallest radius of the cam C. With the parts in this position the arm 29 is elevated and remains in such position until the arm R passes off of the'maximum radius of the cam C. In the mean time, the arm R has passed on to the maximum radius of cam C, thus causing the arm 29 to mave to the lower extreme position, as shown in Figure 13, and to remain in such position until the arm R again engages the maximum radius of the cam C. It will therefore be seen that the needle N rests for a predetermined period in either extreme position before moving to the other extreme position. The lower extreme position of the arm 29 is determined by a stop 29 which is positioned to engage the knotter K, as shown in Figure 13. The purpose of this movement will be better understood from the. description of the operation of the entire machine.

As shown in Figures 9 and 12, the driving of the knotter K is effected through the medium of the segmental rack 48, which ear,

actuating the knotter K, and it is believed that it will suffice to say that dur'ng the cutting and twisting of the wire en s, the

knotter K is caused to describe a predetermined number ofrevolutions by rotation of the shaft 66. By virtue of the segmental rack 48, the shaft 58 is rotated only a predetermined number of turns during one revolution of the shaft 51 to effect the proper actuation of the knotter K.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 8, I havehere shown the delivering conveyor designated generally at H, which is arranged atthe forward end of the machine to receive the bundles as they leave the bed of the machine and to deliver them to any desired point. The conveyor H comprises a pair of endless chains 67 which are trained around sprockets 68 fixed to a shaft 69. The chains 67 are provided at intervals with lugs '70 which function as followers and engage the bundles for carrying the same along the conveyor, as will be readily understood. The shaft 69 is jdurnaled in and supported by hangers 71 (Figure 8), and is adapted to be continuously driven by the power shaft 52 through a gear 72 fixed to the shaft 52 and meshing with a gear 7 3 loosely mounted on a countershaft 74 (Figure 10). Rotatable with the gear 73 is a sprocket wheel 75 operatively connected to a similar wheel 76 fixed to the shaft 69 by a chain 76. From this arrangement it will be seen that irrespective of the position of the shaft 52, the conveyor H is at all times driven.

To effect a manual starting of thefeeder E, knotter K, and needle N, I mount one end of the power shaft 52 in a relatively large bearing 77 fixed to the adjacent side member 16, while the o posite end of the shaft is supported in a hearing 78 formed on the lower end of an arm 83, as shown in Figures 8 and 10. The construction of the bearing 77 is such that the shaft 52 is capable of movement vertically. As shown in Figure 8, one end of the shaft 52 is provided with a relatively small friction wheel 79,

which, in the elevated position 'of the shaft 52, contacts with a relatively large friction .Figure 10, the forward end of lever L is operatively connected to the shaft 52 by the arm 83. Pivoted adjacent the forward end of the lever L is the lower end of a hanger 84 which depends from the shaft 74 and acts as a fulcrum'for the lever so that'when the rear end of the lever is depressed it will be caused to rock about the hanger 84 as a center, thereby lifting the arm 83 and elevating the shaft 52 to effect a frlctlonal engagement of the wheels 79 and 80.

' of the rod 92 is pivotally connected to the K Mounted on the shaft 51 is a cam wheel 85, the major portion of the cam face thereof being concentric with the shaft, as show. 1n Figure 10, the remainder of the cam face completed by a notch 86 WhlCh normally re-' ceives a roller 87 fixed to the lever L. The rear end of the lever L is provided with a pedal 90 for manual actuation of the lever, as will be understood. The lever L andthe associated parts are normally.held in the position shown in the drawings by means of a coiled contractile spring 91 which is connected to the lever adjacent to the pedal 90 and supported at a suitable point upon the frame F. With the lever L in this position wheels 79 and 80 are held out of frictional engagement so that the entire machine, with the exception of the introducln conveyor D, is at rest. By depressing peda 90, roller 87 is withdrawn from notch 86, and allowed to ride on its periphery and simultaneously therewith shaft 52 is elevated, thus bringing wheels 79 and 80 into frictional engagement with each other. As soon as wheel 79 engages wheel 80, shaft 51 is driven in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure .12. The shaft 52 remains in elevated position as long as the roller 87 is out of the notch 86, but upon completion of one revolution of the, cam wheel 85, it will be obvious that the roller falls into the notch thus allowing the lever L to rise under the action of the spring 91 which results in a lowering of the shaft 52.

In effecting an automatic control of the manual control of the starting mechanism just described, I provide the lever L with a rod 92. As shown in F igurel, the lower end lever adjacent the pedal 90, while its up r end is connected to a bar 93 at 94. The ar .93 is in turn pivotally connected to the adjacent end member 15 at 95. As shown in Figure 3, the arrangement of lever 93 is such that it is interposed between the chains of bun le B the introducing conveyor 'D and conveyor E. he lever 98'normally occuples an upwardly inclined position, as shown y this arrangement it will be the material andde- I L connects the powershaft 52 to the shaft 74, as hereinbefore described. f

- From the foregoing description, taken in "so-1 ings, the operation of the various elements" conjunction with the accompanying drawduring one complete cycle of the machine w1ll be understood as follows: Let it be assumed' that a bundle of material B and all I the mechanism be in the position shown in Figure 1. The machinemay be started by manually lowering the bundle B onto the bar 93 without pressure being applied to the pedal'90. Wit the shaft 52 rotating and the wheel 79 contactin with wheel 80, countershaft 74 is now d riv'en which in turn drives shaft 51.' Assuming that shaft 51 starts from the position-shown in Fi re 1, segmental rack 48 rotates pinion 47 t ereby rotating shaft 46 and actuating the feeder 1*}, as has been described. The feeder E con tinues to be operated until the segmental raclr. 48 passes beyond the pinion 47, and during this period oneof the followers G travels from the extreme lefthand end of the machine bed, as viewed in Figure 1, to the ositionshown in Figure 12. With the placed in front of such a follower,- 1t is move from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 12, and durin movement, the wire W beiugadispose 1n its path, the bundle engages and causes the wire W to partly encircle'the bundle. as shown in Figure 12. As soon as the bundle B reaches this position, the feeder E comes torest, and it may be said that the first period of the cycle is completed. Durin this period arms R and R will be idle wit respect to cams G and C and will continue to hold the needle N in elevated position. However, as soonas the feederE comes to rest the cams C and G actuate the arms R and R to move the needle N to lowered position, as shown in Figure 13. With the needle N in this position, it will be seen that the wire W is caused to completely encompass the bundle B, while a portion thereof is insert. ed in the proper osition within the knotter As soon .as t e needle N is well down, segment 48 meshes with pinion 57 and thereby causes the knotter K to be actuated in the manner previously described to effect the cutting andtwisting of the wire that pleted the cams C and C actuate the arms pressed or another bundle is fed to the feeder E. The material to be bound is ultimately fed to the delivering conveyor H by a succession of following bundles which ush the same on to the conveyor where it is delivered to any desired point.

From the foregoing operation, it will be manifest that I have provided a binding machine which can be either manually or automatically started, and when once started the operation of the various parts for forming the material into bundles is actuated automatically in the proper sequence and for predetermined periods. 0

By the duplication of certain parts of the machine, it will be understood that itus possible to make a plurality of wire ties around one bundle or to tie a plurality of bundles simultaneously.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of binding machine embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and IIIOdIfiCEI- tions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A binding machine, comprising tying means. flexible means for feeding the bundle to said means, a threading arm adapted to carry a wire and to be actuated to effect an encompassing of the bundle, and manually controlled actuating means for all of said means, comprising shafts normallydisconnected, a lever for actuating one of said shafts to effect an operative. connection between the two shafts, and cam operated means controlling said lever to effect adisconnection of the two shafts after a predetermined period.

2. A controlling mechanism for binding machines, comprising shafts normally disconnected, a lever for actuating one of said shafts to effect an operative connection between the two shafts, and cam operated means controlling said lever to effect a connect-ion of the two shafts for a predetermined period.

3. A binding machine, comprising a-knotter, an endless conveyor for feeding bundles to the knotter. a needle arm, means for actuating said arm for effecting a wrapping of a bundle subsequent to the feeding of the latter to the knotter, means for actuating by the,bundles for again starting the ma chine.

4. A binding machine as embodied in claim 3 wherein the controlling means comprises a lever disposed in the path of movement of said bundles. I

5. Manually operable starting means for a binding machine, comprising a pair of shafts normally disconnected, a lever connected to one of said shafts for operatively connecting both of the shafts, and means for maintaining the lever in active position for a predetermined period after it is once removed to active position.

6. A cont-rolling mechanism for binding machines, comprising a pair of shafts, a lever capable of occupylng two extreme positions and connected with one of said shafts to (effect a driving connection between said shafts when occupying one eX- treme position, means for biasing said lever to the other extreme position, and automatic, means for temporarily maintaining said lever in the said other extreme position against said biasing means for a predetermined period after the lever had been moved to the first extreme position.

7. In a binding machine, a conveyor adapted to successively convey a plurality of bundles to a predetermined point, mechanism for actuating said conveyor, means for introducing bundles to said conveyor, and means controllable by each bundle as it is introduced to said conveyor for bringing said mechanism to rest after the bundle has been conveyed to said predetermined point.

8. A binding machine comprising, a knotter, an endless conveyor, a needle, mechanism for actuating said conveyor to feed a bundle to said knotter and to then come to rest, mechanism for moving the needle radially to a predetermined position for effecting a wrapping of the bundle, means for actuating said knotter for a predetermined period, and means for elevating said needle radially.

9. In a binding machine, a knotter, a conveyor for feeding bundles to the knotter, a needle capable of occupying an elevated position for supporting a wire in position to be engaged by a bundle and to partly encircle the bundle, and a lowered position in which the wire is caused to completely encircle the bundle, and a stop formed on the needle and adapted to engage the knotter for defining the lowered position of the needle.-

10. In a binding machine, a knotter, a conveyor for feeding bundles to the knotter, a wire manipulating needle, and endless means needle in a predetermined sequence compristo said shaft, a air of rive shafts opering, a driving'shaft, a se meyal' gear fixed atively connecte tothe kn tter and conveyor respective] pinions fixed to said 11. In a binding machine, a knotter, a conveyor, means for successively actuating said knotter and said conveyor for predetermined periods comprising, a-shaft, a segmental gear fixed to said shaft, a pair of sha ts operatively connected to the knotter and conveyor, respectively, pinions fixed to said air of shafts and dlsposed in the path 0 movement of said segmental ear in a manner to be successively en age thereby, a needle, and means operab e by the first shaft for actuating the needle at predetermined times with relation to the operation of the knotter and conveyor.

12. In a binding machine. for 'binding integers of substantially fixed contour into a bundle; mechanism for advancing said integers irrespective of variations in their circumferential sizes, and .without adjustment into binding positions; and mechanism for automatically binding and tying said integers with wire irrespective of variations in their circumferential sizes within the capacity of the machine.

13. A binding machine comprising tying means, means for feeding the bundle to said means, a threading arm adapted to carry a wire and to be actuated to effect an encompassing of the bundle, and manually controlled actuating means for all of said means, comprising shafts normally disconnected,

a lever for actuating one of said shafts to effect an operative connection between thetwo shafts, and cam operated means controlling lever "to' efl'ett a disconnection ter,'a conveyor for feeding undles to the knotter, a needle arm, means for actuating said arm for effecting awra-ppin of'abundle subsequent to the feeding o the latter to the knotter, means for actuating said conveyor, arms and) knotter in the sequence,

mentioned. and then bringing the entire machine to rest, and means operable by the bundles for again starting the machine.

' 15. A bindin machine comprising a knotter and a need e holding a wire under tension across the path of a bundle, followers for advancing a bundle against the wire and advancing the bundle and wire together until the bundle has reached a predetermined position with respect to the knotter with the wire extended across the front side and bottom of the bundle, said followers, being disposed on opposite sides of the wire,- whereby the opposing stress of the followers and wire at staggeredpoints on the bundle will effectively hold the latter, and means actuating the needle to advance the wire downwardly along the rear side of the bundle toward the knotter.

16. In a binding machine, means for disposing a length of wire in the path of the bundlesimeans for advancin the bundles 1rrespect1ve of variations in t eir sizes and without ad uStment against the wire and advancing both the bundles and the wire to cause the latter to partially wrap the former; and means for automatically completing the wrapping and tying of the wire about the bundles irrespective of variations of the sizes of the bundles in one crosssectional dimension thereof.

. ALBERT EARL GRANSTON. 

